Kerstin Thurow is the Director of the Center for Life Science Automation at the University Rostock, Germany. She obtained her Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and the habilitation in measurement and control in 1999 from the University of Rostock. In 1999 she was appointed a professorship for Life Science Automation. Since that time her scientific work is dedicated to the automation of life science processes. Professor Thurow has authored more than 240 scientific publications. She is also a founding member of the academy of sciences Hamburg and member of the technical academy Germany (acatech).

Steffen Junginger is currently working as a senior scientist at the Institute of Automation, University of Rostock. For many years he is the head of the research group "Integrated Systems". Dr. Junginger obtained his Ph.D. in life science automation from the University Rostock in 2011. He has many years of experience in laboratory automation. His main research interests include smart system integration, next generation robotics and autonomous mobile robotics. Dr. Junginger published more than 40 scientific publications (h-index 8 in Scopus).

INTRODUCTION
A Definition of Laboratory Automation
Short History of Laboratory Automation
Potential of Laboratory Automation
Life Science Applications and Requirements (short review on life science applications and requirements automation life science processes)
The LUO Concept in Laboratory Automation (definition of LUO concept, based on that description of main device classes required in laboratory automation)
References

FORMATS IN LABORATORY AUTOMATION
Microtiter plates
Sample formats in analytical application,
Sample formats in medical applications
References

LIQUID DELIVERY
Historic Development of Liquid Handling
Use of Liquid Handling Systems
Liquid Handler Drive Types
Single Channel Systems
Multichannel Systems
General Rules in Liquid Handling
Critical Liquid Handling Parameters
Liquid Handling Performance Monitoring
Overview on Commercially Available Liquid Handling Systems
References

LOW VOLUME DELIVERY
Definition of Low Volume
Application Areas of Low Volume Dispensing
Low Volume Dispensing Technologies
Overview on Commercially Available Low Volume Dispensers
References

SOLID DELIVERY
Introduction
Solid Delivery Technologies
Overview on Commercially Available Solid Delivery Systems
References

DEVICES FOR SAMPLE PREPARATION
Automated Heating, Cooling and Mixing
Automated Centrifuges
Automated Pouring and Filtration
Automated Solid Phase Extraction
References

ROBOTS IN LABORATORY AUTOMATION
Classical Industrial Robots
Cobots
Application Examples
References

MOBILE ROBOTS IN LABORATORY AUTOMATION
Characteristics and Concepts of Mobile Robots (including definition)
Sensors and Actuators for Mobile Robots
Commercially available Mobile Robots
Application of Mobile Robots in Industry
Special Requirements for using Mobile Robots in Life Science Laboratories
References

CAMERA BASED OBJECT DETECTION AND MANIPULATION
Overview on Available Cameras
State of the Art in Camera Based Object Detection
References

ANALYTICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
Reader Systems
Classical Analytical Systems
References

INTERFACES IN LABORATORY AUTOMATION
Introduction
Analog Interfaces
Digital Interfaces
Network Interfaces
Standardization in Laboratory Automation (SILA)
References

SAMPLE IDENTIFICATION IN LABORATORY AUTOMATION
Barcode Technologies
RFID Technologies
Advanced Technologies
References